Two world class goals have ultimately sealed the Hockeyroos' fate as they fell 2-0 to Argentina in Perth on Saturday night, with the victory sending the South Americans to top of the FIH Pro League standings.
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The Hockeyroos made a host of changes from the side that was defeated by the same score line on Friday night, with recalled trio Greta Hayes, Rosie Malone and Jocelyn Bartram all impressing.
"It was a disappointing result for us because we wanted to come out firing and just didn't do that in the first half," Hockeyroos captain and Crookwell native Emily Chalker said post-game.
"They had a couple of shots and scored two goals, while we had more opportunities and once again couldn't convert so that's something we'll need to work on."
The result leaves the Hockeyroos sitting in fourth position on the Pro League table, however with the number of players in the squad who were given a run across the two matches, Head Coach Paul Gaudoin selection changes point to having one eye on the Tokyo Olympics.
"The Olympics is our final goal so this [loss] is going to be a learning curve for us to put our heads down, bums up and get working," Chalker added.
Both sides began the match in aggressive fashion and the hosts were unlucky not to earn a repeat penalty corner late in the first quarter when Malone was struck above the knee.
The deadlock was eventually broken in the 25th minute by an incredible solo goal from Victoria Granatto.
Receiving in the left-hand corner, Granatto sped towards the head of the circle and evaded four defenders before thumping home a strike past the near post.
At the other end Mariah Williams threatened to break the game open, while Hayes quietly went about producing arguably her finest performance on the international stage yet.
The third quarter saw Kate Jenner's penalty corner strike sail inches wide of the goal, while at the other end Bartram made a clutch save.
In a seesawing final term, Chalker went close as they surged forward to find an equaliser.
But instead Argentina put the result beyond doubt as Sofia Tocalino scored a reverse stick strike from the narrowest of angles into an unguarded net.
Shortly after the game concluded, Hockey Australia announced its decision to suspend all international travel for its national teams, including the Hockeyroos and the Kookaburras, until further notice.
Hockey Australia made the determination after regular consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Institute of Sport, and after monitoring the latest updates from the World Health Organisation and Australian Government.
"We have engaged extensively to seek the best and most recent advice on the Covid-19 virus to inform our recommendation not to travel," Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier said..
"We have been tracking the progression of the virus in Europe with the hope it could be contained. Unfortunately, the increase in the number of cases and the spread of the countries now impacted has led us to this decision."
This comes after the FIH postponed the Hockeyroos' matches in China next weekend, while the Azlan Shah tournament in Malaysia the Kookaburras were scheduled to play in has been postponed until November due to the threat of the Coronavirus.
The Kookaburras were scheduled to fly out to Europe tomorrow followed days later by the Hockeyroos for their European matches of the FIH Hockey Pro League.